DW-TX: Op-ed re San Antonio’s upcoming horse carriage vote needs letters 12-8-24

Hello fellow Texans:

With a vote coming on a ban on horse-drawn carriages in San Antonio, Saturday’s (Dec 7) News-Express ran an op-ed by Jeff Quinn, “a former River Walk boat captain, trainer and the 2016 Certified Tourism Ambassador of the Year for San Antonio,” titled, “Carriages hurt no horses, delight visitors and residents.”

Here’s how it opens:

“I anticipate a lively discussion Thursday when the issue of eliminating horse-drawn carriages from downtown again comes before the San Antonio City Council.

“I’m an avid proponent of deferring this matter indefinitely until there are better reasons for banning horse-drawn carriages. The carriage rides are an integral part of San Antonio tourism, as much as the boats on the San Antonio River, the train at the zoo and the double-decker buses.

“It appears that some council members’ intentions are clear and haven’t changed, while others seem to be moving away from a complete ban of horse-drawn carriages.

“Mayor Ron Nirenberg has said he wants the city to ‘transition thoughtfully, compassionately, as soon as we can,’ while other council members support a three- to five-year transition period. District 9 Council Member John Courage is the only one to completely oppose the ban.

“District 3 Council Member Phyllis Viagran, who initially proposed the ban, has shifted her position to renewing carriage permits through 2030.

“Animal rights activists keep pushing their concerns about the horses’ welfare and safety, all of which have been countered.”

Folks, legislators look to the letters pages as barometers of public opinion, so letters in favor of a ban (perhaps expressing appreciation for Mayor Nirenberg’s stance) are invaluable this week. The paper insists letters be under 150 words, just a few lines, so why not take just a moment to write? Animals need our voices.

Yours and all animals’,
Karen Dawn of DawnWatch